EXBS Afghanistan Advisor Monthly Border Management

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 04 KABUL 000881 SIPDIS SIPDIS DEPT FOR ISN/ECC PVANSON, ACHURCH, CBCRAFT; CBP/INA FOR CDONOFRIO; DOE/NNSA FOR RSTUBBLEFIELD; DOC FOR ELOCKWOOD-SHABAT; DOT FOR APARAMESWARAN; SECDEF FOR MHOFFMANN, FLIGHT, AND RVIERKANT E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: ETTC PARM PREL KSTC KNNP AF SUBJECT: EXBS Afghanistan Advisor Monthly Border Management Initiative Reporting Cable - February 2007 KABUL 00000881 001.2 OF 004 ¶I. SUMMARY ¶1. (SBU) SUMMARY: The European Union (EU) has approved a plan for a European mission to Afghanistan aimed at enhancing training for the Afghan National Police. The ESDP mission will strengthen the European contribution to police training, of which the largest part is now the German Police Program Office. It will work closely with the U.S. effort as implemented by CSTC-A Police Reform Directorate by means of an International Police Coordination Board. The Italian Guardia di Finanza will continue to train border police in Herat Province and is being solicited by the Afghan Customs Department (ACD) to train their officials in Kabul. The Border Management Task Force (BMTF) has submitted a proposal to DOS/INL requesting support and related costs for the BMTF mentorship program at the Islam Qalah Border Crossing Point (BCP). BMTF is addressing security issues at the Islam Qalah BCP construction site with CSTC-A and the Government of Afghanistan (GoA). The ACD recognizes and is taking the initiative to improve the economic development at the BCPs by working with other ministries to develop a comprehensive development plan. The BMI Working Group met with representatives from each of the neighboring country Embassies to attend and discuss border issues affecting their relationship with Afghanistan. The participating countries were Iran, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan and Tajikistan. The BMTF Border Police Coordinator has drafted follow-up recommendations of the Afghan Border Police's (ABP) new mobile strategy detailing the developing infrastructure, equipping and integrated border specific technology when implementing this new strategy. A small team representing the BMTF and the Afghan Engineering Department (AED) traveled to Regional Command-South (RC-South) on two separate occasions to conducted briefings with RC-South border stakeholders outlining current and planned infrastructure projects. END SUMMARY. II. ITEMS OF BROAD INTEREST. ¶2. (U) On February 12, 2007 EU foreign ministers approved a plan for a European mission to Afghanistan aimed at training and mentoring the Afghan police units. The European team will operate in the Afghan capital Kabul and in five other regions, with an estimated cost of 40 million euros in 2007. The 70 additional officers are expected to arrive in Afghanistan by May or June 2007 and combined with the 90 currently in country, will comprise the EU projected mission of 160 police officers. The EU has been considering sending such a mission for several months, under pressure from NATO which has called on the bloc to do more in Afghanistan. NATO chief Jaap de Hoop Scheffer has suggested that the 27 EU nations take charge of police training while NATO, concerned at the increase in armed resistance from the Taliban, concentrate their efforts on aiding the Afghan army. The EU foreign ministers, in their draft agreement, also stress their wish to continue collaborating with the Afghan government "to stabilize and reconstruct this country" in the development field as well as in security issues. ¶3. (SBU) Another newcomer to Afghanistan, the Italian Guardia di Finanza (GdF),a law enforcement agency charged with protecting the economic stability of Italy whose experience extends to customs and border enforcement processes and procedures, has recently completed a training course for the Afghan Border Police (ABP) at the DOS/INL/DynCorp Regional Training Center (RTC) in Herat. Although the Border Management Task Force at the US Embassy requested a copy of their curriculum prior to any training, it wasn't received until the completion of their first course of instruction. Unfortunately, it was discovered that the course material consisted primarily of Customs processes and procedures. Although members of the Border Management Initiative (BMI) requested the GdF to train Customs officials in Kabul, the GdF insisted on residing in the Herat Province and training border police at the RTC in Herat. ¶4. (SBU) In January 2007 the GdF were advised that the RTC would KABUL 00000881 002.2 OF 004 experience an increase in basic police training for the Afghan National Civil Order Police (ANCOP) and the Afghan National Auxiliary Police (ANAP) prohibiting them from initiating a 2nd course of instruction. BMI contacted the Italian Embassy and suggested the GdF be relocated to Kabul to teach their curriculum to Customs officials. However, CSTC-A PRD and DOS/INL have found a way to accommodate the Italians at the Herat RTC. Efforts are underway to assure the GdF develop a curriculum that is in keeping with the needs of the ABP and the Customs Police. In the interim, the Afghan Customs Department (ACD) is preparing a proposal to the Italian Embassy requesting additional GdF personnel be sent to Kabul to train Customs officers. ¶5. (SBU) In January 2007 the BMTF met with DynCorp representatives in an attempt to get estimates on the costs associated with housing BMTF mentors at the INL/DynCorp Islam Qalah Border Training Facility (BTF),formerly called the FOB. To date, these figures have not been received by the BMTF because DOS/INL required a proposal request for their support of the BMTF mentorship program prior to furnishing these costs. The BMTF has complied with this request and expects a decision in the near future by DOS/INL regarding their ability to support the BMTF mentors and the related costs. The BTF is currently in the 2nd and final phase of construction which is expected to be completed in May or June 2007. If allowed, the BMTF mentors would be scheduled to arrive when this construction phase is complete. ¶6. (SBU) As reported in January's cable a continuing problem exists at the Islam Qalah Border Crossing Point (BCP) involving a fuel dump operation sanctioned by the Herat Province Governor which is operating illegally within the confines of the BCP. Because of the presence of approximately 12 DOS/INL/DynCorp mentors and contractors working on a $15 million project funded by the United States at this BCP, a mutually agreeable solution for moving the operation outside the BCP facility is being discussed between the BMTF, CSTC-A and the GoA. BMTF has contacted various humanitarian organizations to direct their attention to the conditions of the local population surrounding the BCP in an attempt to garner their support. ¶7. (SBU) The areas around the various BCPs cannot be ignored. In the long term, if the BCPs are to be successful the areas surrounding them must also be developed. This effort will be led by the ACD and will be supported by the Ministries of Urban Development and Rural Rehabilitation and Development. In order to achieve development around the BCPs, a comprehensive plan must be developed and implemented for each of the communities surrounding the BCPs. Coordination and cooperation with the Government of Afghanistan's initiatives must occur to take advantage of other initiatives that target the areas surrounding BCPs. Additionally, the ACD must work with the international development community to coordinate pre-existing projects in the BCP areas and plan for comprehensive development of those areas. Finally, when the ACD has determined the inputs necessary to achieve these goals, they must also arrange for donor contributions to bridge any remaining shortfalls. The BMI is assisting in this endeavor through the coordination of all its members and has reached out to the humanitarian community as well to inform them of these initiatives to gain and coordinate their support. ¶8. (SBU) On February 27, 2007 the ACD hosted the BMI Working Group meeting which brings together all the stakeholders involved in the border regions. The ACD invited representatives from each of the neighboring country Embassies to attend and discuss border issues affecting their relationship with Afghanistan. The participating countries were Iran, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan and Tajikistan. China and Pakistan representatives were unable to attend but promised to make every effort to attend these meetings in the future. This forum provided the proper atmosphere to rekindle discussions previously abandoned regarding border issues such as economic KABUL 00000881 003.2 OF 004 development and trading issues that promise to shape better relationships. The BMI Working Group (chaired by the Ministry of Finance) intends to coordinate further bilateral discussions between the GoA and its neighbors to discuss a broader scope of topics including the shared responsibility of neighboring countries to improve border security (NOTE: No USG personnel will be involved in facilitating or otherwise contacting Government of Iran officials for this purpose. END NOTE). ¶9. (SBU) A new ABP strategy drafted and approved by MoI, CSTC-A PRD and the GPPO revising programs and procedures from lessons learned was addressed in the January EXBS cable. Subsequently, the BMTF Border Police Coordinator has drafted follow-up recommendations detailing the following to assist in the ABP's mobile strategy, developing infrastructure, equipping and integrating border specific technology to consider when implementing this new strategy: - Improving mobility and rapid deployment to quickly counter and interdict threats. - Applying a defense-in-depth approach that makes full use of interior checkpoints and enforcement operations calculated to deny successful illegal entry and smuggling attempts with special emphasis focused to develop both fixed checkpoints and mobile patrol operations and exploiting force multipliers with electronics, communications and optics - Coordination and partnering with other law enforcement agencies - Improving border awareness and intelligence - Provide specialized border police training to enable Border Policemen to safely and effectively perform their responsibilities - Threat/Risk Analysis - Electronic Monitoring Strategies of Interdiction Environmental Compatible Integrated Communications - Recruiting and Retention Strategies - Success/Failure Measurement Monitoring System ¶10. (SBU) A small team representing the BMTF and the AED traveled to Regional Command-South (RC-South) on two separate occasions during this reporting period. While in Kandahar, the BMTF/AED team conducted briefings with RC-South border stakeholders outlining current and planned infrastructure projects with RC-South ISAF/USACE engineers and PRT representatives. The team and RC-South officers reviewed procedures, requirements and benefits of the Afghanistan Country Stability Picture (ACSP) program. In addition, the team met with the Kandahar Regional Police Advisory Team (RPAT) Commanders to review ABP and border related programs and challenges. Additional monthly follow-up and work group meetings are planned with RC-South engineers to improve infrastructure project coordination efforts. ¶11. (SBU) The BMTF/AED team also traveled to the Spin Boldak region in Kandahar Province on two occasions to conduct site recons of the Spin Boldak BCP and its operations at Weesch. Because there are no Customs facilities at Weesch where commercial traffic enters Afghanistan from Pakistan en route to Spin Boldak, a great loss of GoA revenue and cargo is lost. The BMTF team met with local ABP Officers, the Spin Boldak Customs Director and ACD-Kandahar representatives to discuss current BCP procedures and options for a future BCP at Weesch. Results of the recon trips and new BCP options were reviewed with the ACD Director General who agreed to follow up with land procurement research and a plan of action. ACD officials in Kabul, Kandahar and Spin Boldak remain very enthusiastic about the possibility of a new BCP project in Weesch to improve the control of commerce and the collection of revenue in this porous border region. The BMTF/AED team was supported by ISAF RC-South and DoS/INL Civilian Police Mentors during these recon visits. ¶12. (U) TRAINING CONDUCTED DURING REPORTING PERIOD. Nothing to report. ¶13. (U) EQUIPMENT DELIVERED DURING REPORTING PERIOD. KABUL 00000881 004.2 OF 004 Under Procurement. ¶14. (SBU) IMMINENT TRAINING OR EQUIPMENT STATUS UPDATE. EXBS is awaiting the delivery of x-ray screening machines for baggage and cargo, fiber optic scopes, density meters, radioisotope identifiers, explosive detectors, handheld metal detectors, cranes, forklifts, vehicle inspection kits, and tool kits destined for the Islam Qalah and Towraghundi BCPs. Delivery is scheduled in March 2007 for the 3 x-ray baggage and cargo scanners; April 2007 for the explosive detectors; July 2007 for the fork lifts; and August 2007 for the cranes. However, no dates are available for the remaining items, but the EXBS Advisor has secured temporary storage for the equipment and will coordinate logistical arrangements as the equipment arrives. An 'End-User Statement' has been provided to the GoA and will need to be received by ISN/ECC before delivery of the Sabre tri-mode detection systems can be scheduled. ¶15. (U) SIGNIFICANT DEVELOPMENTS IN EXPORT CONTROLS, NONPROLIFERATION, OR RELATED BORDER SECURITY. Nothing to report. ¶16. (U) OTHER SIGNIFICANT ISSUES/EVENTS. Nothing to report. ¶17. (U) RED FLAG ISSUES. Nothing to report. ¶18. (U) Please direct any questions or comments to Barry F. Lory, EXBS Advisor to Afghanistan; +93-070-073-652, or local extension 4230; lorybf@state.gov or to Cassady Craft, South Asia Regional Program Analyst, Office of Export Control Cooperation, 202-647-1063,craftcb@state.gov. NEUMANN